Interview with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki

mobile01 posted a video (in English) with an interesting interview with Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma. Our friends at Mirrorless Rumors not only spotted the interview but they did also a great work to sum it up for us.

1) Company philosphy:
“We’re still a private company, not a listed company. Epically we are still family owned. So we don’t need to maximized turnover, sells and profits. Public company have to do that to keep their stock price high. But in our case, our goal is just to continue the business and protect the employees. And that is very important. So we gave up to grow rapidly. We decided to stay in Japan, and to explore what can be done here. And that’s one reason why we change our main business form volume zone to mid-high end product.”

2) The best selling lenses (in volume) are:
1. 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS
2. 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
3. 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG MACRO

3) The lenses creating more “value” (I guess he means earnings) are:
1. Contemporary/Sports 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM
2.  35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART
3.  50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART

4) DP camera sales:
“dp0 sells more than our expectation. So I’m happy! dp2 is the highest by far. Over 50% than other three models. ”

5) In a recent Mobile01 poll the users biggest wish was for Sigma to make FE lenses:
He recognizes that he gets the same request from other countries (Editor’s note: Mobile01 is located in Taiwan). And he adds later that “Everything is possible” (when asked if he would make Sony FE lenses)

6) About Sony and Foveon:
“To us, it is very clear that Sony will be the major player in the photo industry. Because they have sensor technology. In order to differentiate the products. the sensor and lens are the most important. Other things can be shared by other companies. I think in the photo industry who has a good technology of making good sensor and lens could survive. That is why we acquired the Foveon company and try to retain the technology to us. ”

7) About Taiwan market:
“Taiwan’s market respond to new products very quickly. Way faster than USA, China, even Japan. Taiwan is one have quickest response country in the world. Once we release a new product, Taiwanese will jump into new product or technology. And also they care about the quality very much, even more than price. I think it’s a very sophisticated market. ”

8) Why not make a medium format Foveon camera?
“One of my dream is to make our camera to produce such high quality image. Medium format is my personal interest. But so far we have not work on it. First of all, In order to make a medium format camera, we need to re-develop a whole series from the beginning. We have to develop the sensor, camera body, lens…etc. It’s a very long procedure. And unfortunately, the market size of the medium format look quite small, even for Sigma. So that’s why we did not enter the market.“

[via mobile01 via Mirrorless Rumors]

Canon Closes Out 2015 With Industry Awards And Recognition Celebrating Continued Product Innovation

canon rumors

Canon press release:

Canon U.S.A. Closes Out 2015 With Industry Awards And Recognition Celebrating Continued Product Innovation

MELVILLE, N.Y. — Reflecting on a year of continued product innovation, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, recognizes the many awards from prominent industry organizations and publications it received throughout 2015 – a hallmark year as the company hosted its once-every-five-year Canon EXPO, which can still be explored online until December 31.

In addition to its well-known camera, printer and business solutions, Canon Inc. was ranked three in the U.S. in patents received, with 4,055 patents granted in 2014 and 40 out of 100 on Interbrand’s “Best Global Brands” in 2015, demonstrating the Company’s sustained strong global brand performance. Additionally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Canon with a SmartWay® Excellence Award for the brand’s service as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

“We are proud of the innovative products we continued to deliver to our loyal customers,” said Kotaro Fukushima, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications Division, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “We are honored that the industry and media recognized our hard work and dedication to producing quality, best-in-class products and look forward to continuing the momentum in 2016.”

Consumer Recognitions
Canon earned several distinguished awards for its consumer products in 2015, such as the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 receiving “Printer of the Year” from ImagingResource.com, the MAXIFY iB4020 and MAXIFY MB5320 were named “Editor’s Choice” from ComputerShopper.com and DigitalTrends.com, respectively.

Products from the camera and lens portfolio that received two or more industry awards include:

  • Canon C300 Mark II: “Best New Camera NAB 2015” – NewsShooter.com; “Award of Excellence” & “Best in Show NAB 2015” – ProductionHUB.com
  • Canon EOS 5DS R: “Honoree, Digital Imaging” – CES Innovation Awards; “Editors’ Choice” – DigitalTrends.com; “Hot One Award – Best Full Frame” – Professional Photographer Magazine; “Best Pro Camera”− Resource Magazine; “Cameras of the Year- Best Professional Cameras” – Imaging Resource
  • Canon EOS 5D S: “Pop Award 2015” ─ Popular Photography; “Best Pro Camera” and “Editors’ Choice” ─ Reviewed.com; “Cameras of the Year- Best Professional Cameras” – Imaging Resource
  • Canon EOS Rebel T6s: “Editors’ Choice” – DigitalTrends.com; “Silver Award” – DPReview.com; “Camera of Distinction, Intermediate DSLR” and “Dave’s Pick” – ImagingResource.com; “Editors’ Choice” – PC Magazine
  • Canon XC10: “Post Pick Award – Coolest New Product NAB 2015” – Post Magazine; “Best in Show NAB 2015” – TVTechnology.com; “Honoree – Digital Imaging” – CES Innovation Awards; “Editors Pick” ─ Resource Magazine.
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM: “Editors’ Choice” – PC Magazine; “Hot One Award – “Hot One Award-Best Telephoto Zoom Lens” – Professional Photographer Magazine
  • Canon EF 11-24mm f4L USM: “Hot One Award-Best Wide-Angle Lens” – Professional Photographer Magazine; “Best Lens – Full-Frame” – DPReview.com; “Pop Award 2015” – Popular Photography; “Lenses of the Year, Best Zoom Lens” – Imaging Resource
  • Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM: “Editors’ Choice” – PC Magazine; “Hot One Award-Best Portrait Lens” – Professional Photographer Magazine 
  • Canon PowerShot G3 X: “Editors’ Choice” – DigitalTrends.com; “Editors’ Choice” – Reviewed.com
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II: “Hot one Award- Best APS-C” from Professional Photographer Magazine, “Lucie Technical Award for Best Crop Sensor Camera” The Lucie Awards.

Also included in this year’s award line-up was recognition for other products from Canon’s camera and lens portfolio, including: the Canon EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM received the “Hot One Award – Best Action Lens” from Professional Photographer Magazine; the Canon EOS Rebel T6i received “Dave’s Pick” from ImagingResource.com; the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS received the “Editors’ Choice” from PC Magazineand the Canon Speedlite 430 EX II received a “Pop Award 2015” from Popular Photography.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens teardown (LensRentals)

Sigma 35mm f/1.4

The inner barrel of Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

All pictures © LensRentals and used with permission.

After having torn down the new Canon [shoplink 34159]EF 35mm f/1.4L II[/shoplink], Roger Cicala of LensRentals tore apart the [shoplink 8892]Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM[/shoplink], one of the most regarded lenses in Sigma’s Global Vision line-up, and a lens that has superb optical performance at an affordable price.

In the conclusion:

For the most part, there weren’t many surprises in this teardown. We’ve seen how Sigma has remade themselves as a company making only superb optics at very reasonable prices in the last few years. This lens is constructed very well. There isn’t the amazing heavy-duty construction of the Canon 35mm f/1.4. Instead, I’d characterize the construction of the Sigma as very efficient and carefully laid out. There’s a solid metal core with other parts all connecting directly to that core. Little touches like pegs to make sure a part is inserted in the proper rotation and shields over critical parts didn’t add much expense or weight, but show care was taken in the design. There’s nothing in this teardown that looked like a weak point. Read the review and see the many pics of the teardown…

I have to say that Sigma’s new approach to lens manufacturing, i.e. making outstanding lenses and selling them at an affordable price, is likely the best thing that happened to the photography industry in the last years. Other manufacturers basically have two choices: make lenses that are even better, and sell  them at high prices, or lower the prices of the lenses they are already making. In any case, Sigma has to be taken seriously by the competitors.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM: [shopcountry 8892]

Want a Canon full-frame DSLR for $999? You can get the EOS 6D (refurbished, Canon Store)

eos 6d
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Killer deal by Canon Direct Store. Get a refurbished Canon EOS 6D for just $999. Yes: $999. It won’t get better in the near future. That’s a bargain!

Be sure to check the Canon Store refurbished gear listings for more killer deals:

Canon patent for EF 16-40mm f/4 lens (replacement for EF 17-40mm f/4?)

canon patent

Canon filed a patent for an EF 16-40mm f/4 lens, which appears to point to a replacement for the venerable [shoplink 242]Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM[/shoplink], one of the more affordable Canon “L” lenses. The EF 17-40mm f/4L was introduced in 2003, a replacement is likely given the new high resolution sensors Canon is starting to produce.

  • Patent Publication No. 2015-206976
    • Published 2015.11.19
    • Filing date 2014.4.23
  • Example
    • Zoom ratio 2.36
    • Focal length 16.48 24.40 38.90
    • F-number 4.12 4.12 4.12
    • Half angle (in degrees) 52.70 41.56 29.08
    • Image height 21.64
    • Overall length of the lens 177.74 162.40 159.73
    • BF 38.00 45.51 63.40
[via Egami]

Canon ME20F-SH review by B&H Explora (the Canon camera that can see in the dark)

B&H Photo Explora posted their review and thoughts about the soon to be released Canon ME20F-SH, the full-frame camera that literally can see in the dark.

While the technology featured on the ME20F-SH will likely not find its way into the EOS-1D X Mark II and the EOS 5D Mark IV, it’s good to know that Canon has the engineering skills to develop and build such a camera. Even if this tech is not going to spill over into other parts of the Canon lineup in the near future, Canon shows once more who is the leader. Writes B&H Explora:

The Canon ME20F-SH presents itself as a unique tool for a wide range of applications. Part cinema camera, part surveillance tool, part studio camera, the camera is ready to serve anyone who wants to capture images in extremely dark conditions without having to sacrifice color or resort to infrared lighting and sacrifice nature color reproduction. While it isn’t necessarily meant to be an “A” camera for most productions, I’m sure wildlife and nature documentarians, cave and deep-sea videographers, and astrophotographers in particular, will be champing at the bit to try out the camera. With its ability to capture previously impossible shots, the ME20F-SH could help reinvent the very look and feel of ultra-low-light videography. Exciting times are ahead. Read the review…

Yes, I agree: such technology is exciting, and there are big things to come from Canon in the future.

[we always quote where we find our news, this time: Mirrorless Rumors. Other sites do not care and just repost, we care about ethics]